Senegal coach Aliou Cisse savours long road to Africa Cup of Nations glory

Aliou Cisse dedicated Senegal’s first Africa Cup of Nations triumph to the country’s people after a nail-biting final victory over seven-times winners Egypt.

Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, who had earlier missed a seventh-minute spot-kick, converted the decisive penalty in the shoot-out after the game had finished 0-0 following extra time to spark ecstatic celebrations both at the Stade d’Olembe in Yaounde and back at home.

Head coach Cisse, who missed in a shoot-out as Senegal lost the 2002 final to Cameroon, said at his post-match press conference: “I am African champion. It was long, it was difficult, sometimes complicated, but we never gave up.